ROMANS: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit!"

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:25)

In the previous lesson, we studied about the battle between the carnal vs. the spirit that each of us struggles with. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. ... O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Romans 7:18, 24-25)  Each of us is born into sin, but the majority of us have a sense of what's right or wrong, for to will is present with me. However, unless we are taught at an early age how to make the right choice and avoid the wrong one, we will struggle because how to perform what is good I do not find. That's why God commands parents, but especially And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

But once we reach our age of accountability or maturity to make moral decisions for ourselves, we can't use the crutch that we weren't taught or that we don't know any better.  God makes sure that we ALL hear the truth, ...of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; (Colossians 1:5-6)   Everyone has heard the truth, or at the least has seen the truth,  because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,... (Romans 1:19-20)

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,... (Hebrews 6:1) We can't constantly spend time going over the basics. We have to move forward.  Each of us has a choice to make, and we each know what that choice is - either ignore God's free gift of grace through Christ Jesus, resulting in justification of life (Romans 5:15-18); or accept God's free gift. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)

Jesus commanded all the disciples to, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15-16) "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17) Once we hear the truth, we have to make a moral decision to believe the truth, and then allow God's Holy Spirit to guide us through the rest of our lives on this side of eternity.  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:5-8)

There are many people who aren't Christians and are very nice and generous, and there are many Christians who aren't very nice and quite stingy.  The problem with the non-Christian is that no matter how much good they do, they cannot do enough to please God.  The Christian however is filled with the Holy Spirit and He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8)  The non-Christian will only do what pleases themselves, but the Christian will be convicted to do what pleases God.  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:9-11)

The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned. (Psalm 34:22)  It's not what we do but Who we believe and trust in that saves us! Once saved through faith in Christ Jesus and filled with His Holy Spirit, if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:12-15)

And He [Jesus] said, “Abba, Father,..." (Mark 14:36)  Therefore, through faith in Christ Jesus, we have received the Spirit of adoption and are also able to call God, “Abba, Father”, not because of anything we've done, but only because of Whom we believe in!  God is not just the Creator, or the Righteous Judge, or the Holiest of Holy, but now He is also our Father! And He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6)

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,  that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:6-14) I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! AMEN!